Commercial Satellite Photos of DPRK Missile Base Viewed

New York, Jan. 11 (Yonhap) -- How to analyze a
satellite snapshot of a north korean missile base is a hot issue among
experts here.

According to The New York Times tuesday, experts disagree over whether the
first detailed photo images of a secret North Korean missile base taken
by a spy satellite of private Space Imaging Inc. and released last week
presents a threat to the United States.

The private Federation of American Scientists (FAS) insisted the rural
site featured in the photo lacks basic facilities in order to qualify as
a missile base such as rail links, paved roads, fuel tanks and staff
housing needed to support one.

FAS director John Pike said, "it's the mouse that roared."
The institute said the base is "barely worthy of note, consisting of the
most minimal imaginable infrastructure."

But other experts said the base, from which a missile was test-fired
over Japan in august 1998, is a potentially deadly example of how little
infrastructure is needed for a nation to have missiles that could
threaten the United States.

Frank Gaffney, director of the Center for Security Policy, criticized the
FAS as "naive," saying that a further evaluation could reveal the base's
true threat.